Three straight NPL premierships. A national title. Now a Victorian coaching great is heading to Eltham

Eltham Redbacks have pulled off a major coaching coup, appointing one of Victorian football's most decorated figures George Katsakis as their head coach for the 2027 VPL1 season.

The former Heidelberg United and Bentleigh Greens boss arrives at The Web with more than three decades of senior coaching experience and a remarkable collection of honours, bringing proven success at the highest level of Victorian state-league football to the ambitious Redbacks.

“For me it was a bit of a waiting game. I wanted to make sure I was offered something from a club that’s aspiring for success, whether that’s in the NPL or VPL1,” he said.

“Striving to win trophies is all I’ve been used to, and I want to keep doing what I’ve always done and be a winner.”

“After speaking to Gabby and Joe, I got the feeling there’s a sleeping giant here. With everything they’ve shown me, it just feels like the right fit,” he added.

“The most impressive thing is what they’ve shown through their promotion. When you see 1,200 juniors, a women’s team in the NPL and a men’s team that only just missed out on promotion, all the ingredients I was looking for are in one hub. It looks like such a great family club. When we were promoting Heidelberg as a family club, it was quite similar to this, and I want to be involved in something like that.

“I like to see stability. They’re level-headed and they’re not getting ahead of themselves. They’ve established themselves, and now they’re serious about the next chapter. To me, that’s really important.”

Katsakis is best remembered for masterminding Heidelberg's golden era, becoming the longest-serving coach in the club's history during a tenure spanning 2007 to 2023.

Under his leadership, the Bergers claimed three consecutive NPL Victoria premierships between 2017 and 2019, the 2017 Dockerty Cup and the 2017 NPL Australian Championship, while also reaching three Australia Cup quarter-finals.

Named NPL Victoria Coach of the Year in 2017, Katsakis further enhanced his reputation at Bentleigh Greens, guiding the club to the 2025 VPL1 title and promotion back to NPL Victoria before departing midway through the following campaign.

Now the experienced tactician has accepted a new challenge at Eltham, who have enjoyed a remarkable rise through Victoria's football pyramid.

The Redbacks climbed from State League 1 to the VPL1 finals in just three seasons under outgoing coach Alan Mulcahy, establishing themselves as an emerging force in the state's second tier.

Katsakis arrives with the opportunity to build on that progress and potentially take Eltham another step closer to NPL Victoria, a competition in which he has enjoyed sustained success.

In a joint statement, Eltham’s Chief Operating Officer Gabby Montagnese and Director of Football Joe Montagnese said: “Following several years of significant growth and success, the Club is entering an exciting new chapter, with a clear ambition to continue progressing, competing for promotion and building a sustainable pathway to the highest levels of Victorian football.

“This appointment represents an important step in our long-term strategy and reflects our commitment to three key priorities: player development, on-field success and a strong alignment with our Club values and culture.

“We are committed to creating an environment where players are challenged, supported and inspired to reach their full potential, both individually and collectively. We believe that sustained success comes from strong leadership, high standards, a united football program and a genuine commitment to developing people.

“Our ambition extends beyond winning matches. We want to continue building a football program that our players, members and wider community are proud to be part of, while remaining true to the values that have shaped our Club.

“We believe Kats shares this vision and brings the leadership, experience and commitment required to help take the Redbacks to the next level.

“Our direction is clear. Our ambition is strong. And our commitment to building a successful, sustainable and values-driven football club remains unwavering.

“We warmly welcome Kats to the Redbacks family and look forward to an exciting 2027 season and beyond.”